‘Muddled’

‘Muddled’ vision

by MARIA BRADSHAW

mariabradshaw@nationnews.com

THE DEMOCRATIC LABOUR PARTY (DLP) “strongly condemns the continued instability in the leadership of the Ministry of Education following yet another abrupt and ill-timed Cabinet reshuffle”, while the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) is waiting to hear more about how the two new ministers assigned to education will function.

Felicia Dujon, DLP spokesperson on education, yesterday charged that “with four ministers of education in just seven years, the Government’s lack of direction and clear strategy is creating confusion, frustration and distrust among students, teachers, parents and education stakeholders”.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, in her Tuesday evening Cabinet reshuffle, announced that Senator Chad Blackman will be Minister of Educational Transformation, previously called the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, while Sandra Husbands will be Minister of Training and Tertiary Education.

Dujon stated: “This latest change comes on the eve of the 11-Plus Examination, at a time when hundreds of students should be focused on their future, not Government turmoil. Even more concerning is that this reshuffle happens midway through an education reform process that has already wasted millions of taxpayer dollars, with no tangible improvements in the sector. Instead of reinforcing stability, this administration continues to make ad hoc decisions that disrupt an already struggling system.”

She added that the Government’s leadership on education was becoming more uncertain with every decision.

“Instead of a well-planned approach, we see reactionary changes that leave the public questioning whether the Government truly has a vision for education in Barbados.”

She expressed alarm that the teachers’ unions were not notified before this major change, “contributing to a state of mass confusion in the education sector”.

“This decision continues a

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troubling trend where key stakeholders are excluded from critical conversations. While a Cabinet reshuffle does not legally require consultation, strong leadership demands a pragmatic approach that minimises disruption and prioritises the wellbeing of those affected,” Dujon said.

BUT president Rudy Lovell told the DAILY NATION: “We would want to hear from the Ministry of Education what are the roles of the two individuals, Honourable Chad Blackman and Honourable Sandra Husbands.

“We know that maybe there will be some form of overlap in terms of the responsibility of the ministers. We want to know how efficient and effective the ministers will be in carrying out their duties. Will there be a separate permanent secretary for each minister, a deputy permanent secretary for each minister? There are a number of questions that the union has, which we will gladly put on the table if we get the opportunity to meet the two ministers.”

Asked if there were any concerns that the move towards education transformation could be further delayed with the installation of a new minister, Lovell said no.

‘No delays’

“It shouldn’t delay the process because the Ministry of Education is staffed with a Chief Education Officer, Deputy Chief, permanent secretary, deputy permanent secretary, education officers . . . [who] should be responsible for most of the groundwork with regards to education transformation.”

However, he said the BUT wanted to know what aspect of the transformation was going to be given priority at this time in terms of the ministers.

Lovell also took the opportunity to call on the new minister(s) to intervene in the dispute between the union and the Ministry of the Public Service and the former Ministry of Education regarding the issue of term’s leave for teachers.

“Because there can’t be that effective education transformation if teachers are unhappy. At the moment, teachers are quite unhappy with not being able to get terms of education leave as is written in the General Orders,” he added.

Parent advocate Paula-Anne Moore said the new name “sends a strong signal of its mandate and we parents stand ready to collaborate in achieving feasible change. We welcome future communication and clarity on the structure and objectives of the two apparent new education ministries”.

Concerned parents

Moore, who is also spokesperson and coordinator for the Group of Concerned Parents of Barbados and the Caribbean Coalition for Exam Redress, called for further clarity on the roles of the two ministers.

Reiterating that “parents must be engaged, at the strategic level as an integral part of the remedial way forward”, she added: “It clearly cannot be business as usual, if we are truly serious about education transformation, nationally and regionally. However, we must also be mindful that the change is not rushed and accords with both business management and pedagogical best practice.”